Game in a nutshell: Hours after an inspiring, walk-off victory, the Nationals opened a day-night doubleheader against the Mets and put forth one of their worst efforts of the season. Jordan Zimmermann labored during 6 2/3 innings, serving up a pair of early homers to Daniel Murphy. The Nationals lineup was completely shut down by Jenrry Mejia, making his first big-league start of the season. And then things really got ugly in the top of the ninth. Ryan Mattheus, making his first appearance since breaking his hand more than two months ago, was charged with three runs. Drew Storen, battling the flu, then gave up three runs on four pitches, including a two-run homer to Ike Davis. The Nats were blown out before an increasingly hostile crowd and now have to take the field again in two hours to face New York ace Matt Harvey. A loss tonight would leave the Nationals and Mets tied for third/fourth place in the NL East.

Hitting lowlight: Facing a guy making his first big-league start of the season and only the seventh big-league start of his career, the Nationals put forth another feeble performance at the plate. TheyRead more »

As ineffective — call it bad, inconsistent, frustrating, whatever — as the pitching was, the failure to score even a single run was more indicative of this team's 2013 struggles. Scoring zero runs in nine innings will win you very, very few ballgames.

You know this game should have been started at noon or 12:30pm; they have a game in two hours.If your going to the game tonight be prepared to sit on someone else garbage, because they is no time to clean. Shortsighted…

JZ was fine, I thought. No, it wasn't his best performance ever, but he pitched 6 2/3 and allowed what? 3 runs? He struck a bunch of guys out, so his stuff was fine. It's not his fault that the offense sh*t the bed AGAIN.

There is no positive from this game. Somebody had to pitch the last two innings. We were out of it long before Mattheus or Storen came in. There was no sense in burning anybody else in the the first game of a double header. If Drew Storen really had a temp of 102, that's criminal on Johnson's part.Concerning Jordon Zimmerman, I love the guy, but I think there is plenty to be concerned about. Sure, he got a lot of K's, but he seems to have gotten the loss of focus that has infected so many others on this team. In his last 2 starts he's pitched 8.2 innings and given up 12 earned runs. In his last 5 starts he has pitched 26 1/3 innings and given up 21 earned runs. (7.18 ERA over his last five starts).Well, we just looked at the traffic jams on Google maps.Can't make ourselves fight it tonight. Gonna lay around the shanty, Mama, and put a good buzz on.

Just did a quick count. Nats have now scored zero runs in 10 games and only one run in 18 games. Those are 28 games in which you have almost no chance of winning (they won one 1-0 game). There have been another 19 games in which the Nats scored only two runs; they won four of those.

When are FP, Bob, Johnnie and Ray going to stop making excuses for this team. QUOTE – They are facing very good pitching staffs! I think all teams facing the teams the Nats are playing are facing the same staffs. Excuse after Excuse! This bunch needs a good kick in the butt, but this will never happen with Davey at the helm and he's here for the remainder of the year. Also, they showed Drew in the bull pen, sitting by himself and FP and Bob stated he had the flu. Question; why we even put him in the game? Keep wearing your red, the Jr. Phillies (Nats) are dead!!!

Guys, 5 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings against this line up is " not that bad"? Grooving not one, but two meatballs to Daniel Murphy? I'm not saying he was totally awful, but this isn't an isolated game. He hasn't been the guy we saw earlier this season in 4 out of his last five starts.

Thanks for sharing the link, Natsie. I'd been wondering when the video would come out. Quite a talented group of songsters and it looks like a good time was had by all.NCNatsie said… Maybe what we need is a fight song. Here's one, sung by the Nats Insider Chorus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJmuEqbvviw July 26, 2013 4:55 PM

All I can imagine is that Drew knew the bullpen was shortstaffed with two games to play in one day,and that he volunteered–said he was okay for one inning. This poor team. They're all probably desperately trying to do anything to play well, so they do things like pitch with a fever of 102. They need our support at the season ticket holder event tomorrow.

Reverse of rolls Mick more than positive than me. I though JZim was mediocre at best.Bottom line none of our starters can give up the first run and expect to win. So as soon as batter 2 homers, I am not thrilled with the pitcher.

That's as low as I've seen Davey in the post game presser. Of course this is as bad a stretch he's had with the Nats. Kind of makes me wonder if he's going to last the season if things don't turn around.

I said Davey if it is true, is guilty of total disdregard to his employee, which is not a good thing. Just as bad, not on question at tge presser about it. That to me was my first and only question.Whete are Woodward and Bernstein.First no question of Diaz, now no asking Davey an obvious question.

We need to consider the possibility that Z'mann has plateaued and is never going to be the elite pitcher some have imagined. He went through a similar stretch last year, rebounded mid-August to mid-September, then washed out the end of the season and espec. the playoffs.Or, he's figured out where this season is headed and day-dreaming about deer season.

Wow. I've been in a seminar all day and only followed the game on the At Bat app. What a wreck!I agree with you all: I was a tiny bit surprised, event, to see Drew still on the active roster and not in Syracuse after the last few outings. But to our him out there sick? Incredible!But as to Jordan Z, Theo, I recall him shutting down the Cardinals in relief during the playoffs last year. Did I miss something? Where was his playoff wash-out?

I don't know, sec222. Seeing it after the game gave me a little bit of a boost. Maybe because it gives a sense of the community that has grown up around this blog. Section 222 said… Congrats and thanks to NC Natsie. Not a great day to debut the video, but some things can't be helped. July 26, 2013 5:41 PM

Plus, evidently a pigeon flew through the press box. It also should have pooped on someone to really put the icing on the, er, cake. :-)karlkolchak said… You though it could get any worse than this afternoon's game. You were wrong. From Zuckerman's Twitter feed: "Harper not in Game 2 lineup for #Nats after aggravating L knee diving for ball in Game 1." July 26, 2013 6:15 PM

So, no Harper in the lineup, Span back in the leadoff spot, a pitcher who until a six weeks ago was completely washed up on the mound, just got their butts kicked 11-0 in the afternoon contest, going up against Harvey–karma couldn't be any worse for this game.Which is why they will probably win. The baseball gods do seem to enjoy their practical jokes since they play them all the time.

If he sick i find that total disregard to health of an employee. One of my friends who is OSHA top lawyer said good thing baseball has the anti trust clause or it could be an actual OSHA xase except no baseball player would want to appear like a wimp.Either way why pitch a sick person.Totally stupid.

Karolchak — Davis and Cedeno weren't in my mind; Barrett, Karns might be better. The point isn't who's better but who could be worse? These guys combined have an ERA of 6. No one in this organization experiences any consequences for sucking.